The authors of the Notre Dame Sympsium in the summer of 1999 worked toward the goal of helping people understand and appreciate a profound document from the Holy Father in Rome.

Pope John Paul II introduces the 1998 encyclical "Fides et Ratio" with a question. He wonders whether philosophy makes people feel sick and queasy? The immediate answer is to say, Yes, philosophy does make people feel sick, because of a "widespread distrust of the human being's great capacity for knowledge" (paragraph no. 5).

The conclusion that philosophy makes us queasy receives support from the following induction. Try a simple test and read the following questions: "Who am I? Where have I come from and where am I going? Why is there evil? What is there after this life?" (no. 1).

Do these questions of John Paul II bring about feelings of sickness and light-headedbess? Are the questions heavy and confusing? Do they produce repulsive, clammy feelings in one's nervous system? If you are like some college students in philosophy class, then your anwer may be affirmative.

Philosophy and the above question should be attractive to us and should cause us to relax. "These are questions which we find in the sacred writings of Israel, as also in the Veda and the Avesta," writes John Paul. "We find them in the writing of Confucius and Lao-Tze, and in the preaching of Tirthankara and Buddha." These questions have been confidently addressed in every place and every time history. "They appear in the poetry of Homer and in the tragedies of Euripides and Sophocles, as they do in the philosophical writings of Plato and Aristotle."

Unfortunately, we do not find these questions at Disneyland or Las Vegas. Disneyland in Anaheim has 60 major rides among eight themed lands: Main Street, Tomorrowland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Adventureland, Critter Country, Mickey's Toontown and New Orleans Square. However, Philosophyland is excluded from the park. Las Vegas ignores the tough questions and provides "escapist fun" with colossal hotels and casinos: Excalibur, Luxor, New York-New York, Circus Circus, MGM Grand and Treasure Island. As the AAA Tour Book says, "Las Vegas became a city that thrived on illusion and fantasy" (California/Nevada 2000, p. 262). However, there is no Philosophy casino in Vegas.

After visiting Dineyland and Las Vegas a person might ask, "Where can I find answers to the tough questions on page 9 in the encyclical?" The Pope replies by saying that "the Church is no stranger to this journey of discovery" (no. 2). The Church is good place to investigate the philosophical questions, because the Church "received the gift of the ultimate truth about human life" from the Lord, and the Lord is "the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14: 6).

I read this book for the first time back in 1965-1966. I have shared this book with several of my catholic friends who found the book to be exqusided. I have the May 1953 editition. Naturally I had to order the revised edition. Since reading the new edition I find it very, very informative. and I highly recommend it be read by all old and new Catholics. It will answer many if not most of the questions you have about the Catholic Faith. God Bless You!

I loved finding out about "the secrets of the trade" and how food and design come together. I recommend this for cooks, photographers, and anyone interested in design, lighting, or presentation. It is also just plain fun to look at the great photograhy and read about why your Christmas dinner will never quite look like the one in the magazine.

I love this book, I wont let my friends touch it. It's totallyworth the dollars, it tells you about the greatest NFL players ever. For example: Steve Young, the best left-handed Quarterback ever,and Jerry Rice, the greatest all-time wide receiver ever.

This strong precise outlook reflects different aspects of different sides of the business spectrum. It's a truly positive look at successful businesses and the great minds behind them. Grove, Smith, Lynch, Rowland, & Volcker all share insights & directions in a volatile era. With Gretchen Morgenson, Senior Editor at Forbes magazine, letting these truly gifted individuals openly express ideas, predictions and success fortitudes. Forbes Great Minds made a lasting impression on me. It was great to listens to these fascinating people in an informal interview. To pick up one new idea and one new lesson is worth the time spent, but too generate the detailed information they provided is extraordinary.

The Spitzers were three World War II rescue commandos, brave and fearless and their greatest accomplishment was saving the life of General Britt. After the war was over, the General invited them to come live with him, his housekeeper, Mrs Wilson and her son, Walter, in his house on Felton Street. And they all live happily together for many years. Sadly, General Britt passed away, leaving the house to the three, now very old warriors. That is until the letter came. The General's nasty nephew, Ralph, claims he's the heir to the General's estate and is giving the Spitzers, Mrs Wilson and Walter one week to get out. But Walter will have none of this. He is determined to find a way to save the house for his "family" and stop Ralph from throwing them out. He tells the Spitzers, "We're not giving up this house without a fight." So begins General Butterfingers, John Reynolds Gardiner's fast paced, action packed story, that will delight and amuse even the hardest to please readers. Gardiner has filled his book with great characters, lots of dialogue and funny, vivid scenes that will keep kids turning pages to the end, as they watch Walter lead the Spitzers into one last battle. This is the perfect book for kids aged 9-12 and a wonderful read-aloud story the whole family will enjoy.

For years I have used an old edition of J.B. Smith's Greek-English Concordance and have found it to be an essential component for my study of God's Word. I am surprised that this reference tool is not more widely known and used in the study of the Bible. I have been searching for a reprint edition of Smith's Concordance for use in the library at the Christian Bible School where I work (Word of Life Bible Institute). This Concordance provides a key component in my study of key words in a Bible passage. It is the only study tool that I know of that allows an English-reader to quickly examine the complete usage of a Greek word in the New Testament. The Concordance give an exhaustive, summary analysis in chart form of every word in the N.T. Thus, when I wish (1) to see all places in the N.T. where a Greek word is used and (2) to know all the English words which translate that Greek word, I go to J.B. Smith's Concordance. Normally this is my first step in a Bible word study. Once this information is gained I am able to use other Bible Study tools to obtain a more in-depth study of the Greek word. A Quick example: Lets say I want to study the KJV Bible word "transformed" (Rom. 12:2). First I look up the English word "transformed" in the index to obtain a reference number to the Greek word. I then turn to the Greek word (English phonics provided). Here I find that my target Greek word is used three times in the N.T. Now I "discover" that the Greek word also is translated as "transfigured" when referring to Christ's transfiguration. So I learn that the "transformation" Paul desired for his readers is to be like the "transfiguration" of my Lord Jesus. This is a great Bible study tool!

When I first read Greening the built environment I did not think much of it, I didn't even finish it. Then the other day I picked it up again and I couldn't put it down. It is a very insightful book, that makes a strong case for greening the urban environment, the authors have a long experience in planning and environment and give examples that help you understand the why's and the how's of urban development and the changes it needs to become sustainable. Thank you for a great book.

This is a great book for people who want to grow vegetables without having to be a farmer. It is short, concise and easy to read. The first chapter gives some tips on soil preparation and when to plant,then in alphabetical order, each vegetable is given it's own page with brief paragraphs on conditions, growing methods and harvesting. There are also storage methods, harvesting times and some recipes. I found this book very helpful and I highly recommend it.

Air Group 60, (F6F Hellcats, TBM torpedo bombers, and SBD dive bombers), served on the USS Suwanee CVE 27, one of 85 "small" excort carriers which carried much of the load of naval air warfare, but whose contributions are relatively unknown. From Kwajalein to the Philippines, Suwanee and Air Group 60 were in the thick of it, setting the record for continuous combat days; winning Presidential Unit Citations and many battle stars. Photos, maps, rosters, the roll of honor for the Air Group, and Sunflower University Press' usual excellent index.